Out of 54 nations on the African continent, 28 voted in favor - but a large chunk, 17 countries, abstained from UN General Assembly vote deploring Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and calling for the immediate withdrawal of its forces. The Caribbean nations were more united and mostly voted against the Russian foray. The reported explanations for each country’s vote varied.

Kenya voted for the resolution. Kenya’s Martin Kimani said Russia’s move breaches the territorial integrity of Ukraine, reported National Public Radio. He pointed out that Africa itself has had to contend with borders created by colonial powers because of the greater goal of peace. “Rather than form nations that looked ever backward into history with a dangerous nostalgia, we chose to look forward to a greatness none of our many nations and peoples had ever known.” He continued, “We chose to follow the rules of the OAU (Organization of African Unity - now the African Union) and the United Nations charter not because our borders satisfied us but because we wanted something greater forged in peace.”

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While 141 nations called for Russia to leave Ukraine, earlier, 184 countries voted in favor of a resolution to demand the end of the US economic blockade on Cuba - - with the United States and Israel voting against. Three countries abstained: Colombia, Brazil, and: Ukraine.

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According to the BBC, when the European Union ambassador to South Africa queried on Twitter why South Africa had abstained, Clayson Monyela, South Africa’s head of public diplomacy, accused the bloc of having double standards, saying it should also condemn other aggressors in the Palestinian territories, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Somalia.

Uganda said it had also abstained to uphold its "neutrality" as the incoming chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a forum of 120 developing countries set up to stop their members becoming pawns in cold war power games.

Interestingly sister nations Gambia and Senegal, which often declare they are “one people, two nations,” voted differently. While Banjul (Gambia) voted yes, Daker (Senegal) abstained.

Eight countries including Uganda, Senegal, and Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, chose not to vote. The Times of Swaziland reports the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Thuli Dladla, saying Eswatini is very concerned about the continued deterioration of relations between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Dladla stated that the developments signified by the military action between the two brotherly countries was regrettable.

Eritrea was one of only five countries in the world which voted against Russian sanctions.

Each of the 15-full members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) voted against Russia. Twenty countries make up CARICOM. Fifteen are full members and five are associate members. The associate members don’t vote in the UN.

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The Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: The White House's hysteria is more revealing than ever. The Anglo-Saxons need a war.

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Venezuela is a CARICOM observer nation. Cuba is not a member, but all member states of CARICOM have established diplomatic ties with Cuba. Venezuela did not vote. Its voting rights had been suspended as a result of unpaid UN membership dues. Cuba abstained.

However, Cuba’s abstention was not an isolated incident. While 141 nations called for Russia to leave Ukraine, earlier, 184 countries voted in favor of a resolution to demand the end of the US economic blockade on Cuba, for the 29th year in a row, with the United States and Israel voting against. Three countries abstained: Colombia, Brazil, and: Ukraine.

“We call on the United States and NATO to seriously and realistically address the well-founded claims for security guarantees of the Russian Federation, which has the right to defend itself,” Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement reported the Miami Herald.

Jamaica’s delegate said that inaction by the international community would be unacceptable, adding that “In the eternal and inspiring words of Bob Marley, therefore, let us all get up and stand up for the rights of all the people of Ukraine, because today — we are all Ukraine.”

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The Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Telegram: "The White House's hysteria is more revealing than ever. The Anglo-Saxons need a war. At all cost."

“Ukraine is now lead by fascist, and supporters of Anglo-Saxon countries,” Victor Volodatsky, Russian State Duma on PBS, February 15, 2022.